Based on its ratio of forest to population and land area, Suriname is the most forested country in the world, and as part of the Amazon biome has a rich, complex biodiversity. For conserving and sustainably using biodiversity, and accessing and sharing benefits from the utilization of genetic resources in an equitable way, Suriname ratified the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) in 1996. Suriname was already committed to protecting biodiversity through its national nature conservation legislation, well before ratifying the UNCDB. By developing a first National Biodiversity Strategy and National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBS and NBAP) in 2006-2011, Suriname further elaborated specific actions and measures to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and manage its benefits, as well as made an attempt to mainstream this in the context of its national development. In the past five years, a long overdue breakthrough was the adoption of the Suriname Environmental Framework Act. The period after 2007-8, was a difficult one economically for Suriname1. Addressing the pressing social-economic circumstances in Suriname was reflected in the increased production and export of gold, granting of mining concessions and the production of roundwood during that time2, with negative consequences for the environment, biodiversity and human health and security, especially of exposed indigenous and tribal peoples. The last 3-5 years are again marked by a dramatic deterioration of the country’s national financial- and economic situation1. Recognizing the interdependency between society, economy and biodiversity, currently Suriname is at a turning point where an opportunity presents itself to integrate structural solutions to pressing social-economic development needs with the sustainable management, conservation and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from biodiversity. The present undertaking is to update Suriname’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which establishes the national vision, strategic pathways and targets to be pursued in order to conserve the nation’s biodiversity, ensure its sustainable use and fair access and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources. The NBSAP also represents a commitment of Suriname to implement policies and actions that are mainstreamed with national sustainable development priorities and aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

These updated NBSAP's contain 20 National Strategic Targets for Suriname, namely: Regarding Conservation of Biodiversity: 1.1 Terrestrial, marine and wetland protected areas in Suriname comprise 30% of the total area and are effectively managed, including in the EEZ, covering unique and vulnerable ecosystems in all parts of the country; 1.2 Suriname has initiated ecological restoration and rehabilitation of degraded, polluted or depleted terrestrial, marine and aquatic ecosystems using evidence-based procedures, norms and national guidelines; 1.3 Suriname effectively protects endangered animal and plant species through coordinated management and monitoring systems and has the required technical and financial capacity for the enforcement of wildlife trade regulations; 1.4 Suriname has increased awareness and developed early detection and management systems for preventing the introduction of exotic species and reducing the risks and impact from invasive species; Regarding Sustainable use of Biodiversity: 2.1 Suriname has adopted terrestrial and marine spatial planning laws and regulations, including zoning and integrated management plans, to minimize unsustainable ecosystem conversion or degradation; 2.2 Suriname has reduced the risks of pollution of ecosystem from various sectors through established national environmental quality standards, integrated waste management- and monitoring systems in line with national legislation; 2.3 Suriname enforces the sustainable exploitation of biodiversity in land-, sea- and freshwater use economic sectors through responsible practices and technologies, in line with sound land use planning and zoning; 2.4 Based on increased evidence-based understanding on ecosystem services, Suriname’s public, private and societal organizations incorporate nature-based solutions in urban planning, climate resilience, food production systems and the development of sustainable livelihood options; 2.5 Suriname has set priorities and developed a plan for phasing out or reforming subsidies and incentives for the private sector that are harmful for biodiversity and for regulating incentives in favor of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity including transparency and compliance; Regarding Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge: 3.1 The collective traditional knowledge and associated intellectual rights of indigenous and tribal communities are recognized in Suriname’s legislation; 3.2 Indigenous, tribal and other local communities have capacities and respected structures for protecting their traditional knowledge and managing community territory biological resources; 3.3 The access and benefit sharing provisions of the UNCBD are incorporated in national legislation and transparent procedures for bioprospecting, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits, recognizing the rights, including intellectual property rights, of all Surinamese citizens; Regarding Mainstreaming and Implementation: 4.1 The capacity of Suriname’s institutions and relevant groups are strengthened for effective management, monitoring and evaluation, technical cooperation, fund mobilizing and science-policy communication of the NBSAP implementation; 4.2 Suriname has increased its national budget for biodiversity-related policy areas, and has improved knowledge of and access to international finance, including innovative schemes such as payment for ecosystem services and biodiversity offsetting, and synergies with climate financing; 4.3 The importance of biodiversity and the nature-human relationship are structurally integrated in Suriname’s education curricula for elementary and middle school, and in awareness campaigns on related issues; 4.4 Increased Surinamese scientific research, including community-based research, is published, linked to national databases, and contributes to credible and legitimate knowledge on Suriname’s biodiversity in the broadest sense; 4.5 There is increased understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change on terrestrial and marine biodiversity in Suriname and of how biodiversity can be integrated in climate adaptation strategies; 4.6 Suriname has harmonized environmental and economic policies and all relevant government-, civil society- and private sector organizations are involved in the NBSAP implementation; 4.7 Suriname’s biodiversity policies include gender-responsive actions and these are implemented through inclusive participation mechanisms, considering intersectionality and outcomes that effectively improve the situation of vulnerable groups, including indigenous and tribal peoples, women and youth; 4.8 There is increased understanding of the synergies between biodiversity protection and achieving the SDG’s in the Surinamese context, for efficient measures, monitoring and financing;

A technical working group of rights- and stakeholders proposed prioritization of targets. These are listed below: High priority targets: 4.1 Capacity strengthening 4.2 Financial resources 3.1 Recognition of collective rights 2.1 Optimizing national legislation 3.2 Protecting traditional knowledge 4.3 Education and awareness 3.3 Fair and equitable benefitsharing 1.1 Protected areas 4.4 Research and data 4.5 Climate change and biodiversity Medium priority targets: 1.2 Ecological restoration 2.2 Sound spatial planning on land and in sea 2.3 Reducing pollution 4.6 Inclusive participation 2.4 Sustainable exploitation 1.3 Endangered species and wildlife 2.5 Ecosystem services 4.7 National biodiversity integration 2.6 Sustainable consumption and production Lower priority targets: 1.3 Reducing invasive species risk 2.7 Reducing harmful incentives 4.8 Synergies between SDGs and biodiversity